4th full day in the DR

Today started off a little crazy at the betay. The kids were wild. I still think the kids got something out of it, they were just very wound up. Recreation went well but it was hard to get them to listen to much else unless we were singing. We are all definitely getting a good arm workout holding kids. Literally the moment we put one down another one is standing there with arms straight up wanting to be picked up. Tonight during our team devotion/debriefing of the day I asked something about something good that happened today and Ruby, Katherine, Donna, and Libby all said, "I picked up a naked kid!" It was hilarious to see how proud they were of that fact.

Amber woke up stuffy and not feeling too great but she cleared up once we got going. Coates also woke up not feeling to great but he didn't clear up so he stayed back and slept this morning. Don't worry Annette we are taking care of your baby boy. He got to feeling better and helped out this afternoon.

It was as if something clicked with the boys at the orphanage today. They all seemed to finally open up to us. We read to them this afternoon and of course my kid kept picking out the books that were only spanish. Thankfully he would only let me "read" a sentence or two before flipping the page, because I was struggling with my redneck spanish. At one point he got out a book with loads of objects and the spanish and English word beside them. I'm still not sure but I think he was trying to quiz me.

We worked in the field again (see attached picture). It is always funny when its time to head back because the boys will not let us carry the hoes they want to see how many they can manage to carry. They will start yelling at us if we try to walk back with one or help them out.

As soon we were done in the field (before even walking back) the Haitian kid found me and managed to communicate that I needed to go get the gloves and a ball. I was real excited. I just could not find the small glove and he wasn't happy about it. He kept telling me over and over (in spanish) that he needed a smaller one. I tried my best with the little spanish I knew to tell him I couldn't find it but he didn't care. Finally after he sent me looking for the 5th time I managed to locate it. We were playing catch but Donna made me move because she was also playing catch and was afraid she'd hit me with the ball since she apparently can't aim well. Coates found him a hammock today in the storage room and got that thing strung up between two trees. He had a nice siesta (see attached picture).

Tonight was really fun. We had activity night with the boys. We started out with a big game (too much to explain) that involved a lot of running and us making idiots of ourselves. Then we sat down at the tables where we eat and played games like connect 4 or trouble with them.

Tomorrow will be our last day at the betay, we are all sad about that. Going to the betay has been a highlight of this experience. It has been eye opening to go out into the community and see how people are living.

Mrs. Susan, Ruby wants you to call her work to make sure she is not on the schedule for Sunday and she says for you to bring Josh to the airport.

Please continue to pray for us. Amber and Coates both need healing and Brandon is starting to feel a little sick. It seems to be going around, a few of the long term volunteers have been feeling bad too. Thankfully with most its seemed to be a short lived bug.

-Lance

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